These women stepped out of the box

Published: Sunday, March 24, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, March 22, 2013 at 11:53 a.m.

Among grandparents, I count myself lucky. Each week, I get to see my little ones.

The "grands" get a big charge out of ringing the front doorbell and hearing my reaction to their arrival. They stand there holding a favorite doll or truck, sporting pigtails, braids or a new haircut. Their little dimples and smiles, their squeals and hellos would put a grin on the sourest of faces.

I am thankful that both my granddaughters and my grandsons are growing up today rather than times past. These days, the sexes are taught to be supportive and respectful of one another. The days when women were considered property are long gone. Choices for their life pathways are plentiful.

I also feel fortunate that our family lives in an area where there is a good sense of community. We have a good school system (where 1,238 of the full-time employees are women.) And if I were to give a city, town or county a grade on a report card, I would consider the number and quality of nonprofits. While we can always do more, I think our community is doing very well.

For Women's History Month, I want to offer a public thank you to the women who played a role in starting these organizations.

Take the example of Mainstay. Though our county has a reputation for its wealth and beauty that attracts visitors and new residents, we also have another face. We have a significant amount of poverty, and we're no exception to our share of situations that plague the human race.

When I moved here in the 1970s, there was no place for women to go when confronting domestic violence. This situation happens across the socioeconomic spectrum. As a mother and a grandmother, I shudder to think of small children and their parents facing a situation like that.

Thankfully, there were people who cared about the absence of services and a shelter, and they did something about it. Helen Redden and Naoma Dean Clague at Trinity Presbyterian Church, with Renee Kumor and the late Charlotte Buller, are among those who deserve a thank you from the community for bringing this to fruition in 1985. Beth Kissling and Salley Stepp were the first employees. Stepp now is director of Safe in Brevard.

In the beginning, around 90 women a year were assisted. The history on its website says, "Today Mainstay serves nearly 1,000 individuals yearly and operates the largest domestic violence shelter in Western North Carolina." Its mission includes self-sufficiency as well as safety.

Claire Heydon Burson and Barbara Garrison (no relation) were interested in providing health care to seasonal farm workers in our community. Thanks to their initial efforts and persistence, over the years it has grown into the Blue Ridge Community Health Services.

The beginning of the Dispute Settlement Center (now The Mediation Center), which resolves conflicts out of the courtroom, was started by Fran Schneider, Savie and Francis Underhill and Wendell Capes.

Various committees leading to the formation of the Children and Family Resource Center started with assistance by women. Among them were Marcia Caserio, Grace Poli and Kumor along with Spence Campbell. Three women — Jean Hoogstra, Margaret Milroy and Eugenia Dowdeswell — launched the Interfaith Assistance Ministry. Poli was also involved in starting the Human Resources Council.

Many of these women were and still are members of the League of Women Voters. The league is a nonpartisan organization encouraging informed and active participation of citizens. Among women who worked to establish a local chapter were the late Frances Sherman, Eleanor Cosgrove and Sally Godehn.

Another wonderful asset in our community is the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy that conserves and preserves land in our area. I am told this organization was hatched at the kitchen table of Lela McBride, another league member. Mary Jo Padgett provided leadership to start another important nonprofit, ECO (Environmental & Conservation Organization).

In addition to the environment and social services, women contribute to the arts community. Jana Humleker founded The Supporting Players, a theater support guild, at the Flat Rock Playhouse. Under the leadership of Betsy Bisson and the late Wendy Wilkins Bailey, the Spotlighters, a support guild for YouTheatre at the playhouse, was also launched.

Heather Boeke, a high-energy mom with twins, has given area children their own museum and family play space when she founded Hands On. Most recently, Caroline Long has labored long and hard to found St. Gerard House, a nonprofit serving families dealing with autism here in Hendersonville.

Over the years, Pam Sacco and Caserio provided leadership for several area nonprofits. Some of their projects broached the difficult subject of child sexual abuse and planted the seeds for the formation of nonprofits such as The Healing Place to address that need.

Caserio was on the committee that hired the first director of the Pardee Hospital Foundation, and started the annual Women Helping Women event, providing mammograms and health resources to women in need.

There are many more women — and men — who helped launch other nonprofits, but due to space limitations those will have to wait for a future column. (Information about them may be sent to the email address listed below.)

For now, it's time to say thank you to these ladies: for taking time from your job and your home to step out of the box and think of others.

We are grateful for the times you forgot and left damp laundry in the dryer, and ran out of milk. We appreciate the hours on the phone, all the legwork, all the papers you filled out, and the many meetings you attended.

Thank you for working through the fatigue as you worked for your passion and pursued a purpose.

To honor the work of these women, support these organizations with your donations.

Our community is better because of their efforts.

Mary Garrison lives in Flat Rock. Contact her at mmrgarrison@gmail.com.

<p>Among grandparents, I count myself lucky. Each week, I get to see my little ones.</p><p>The "grands" get a big charge out of ringing the front doorbell and hearing my reaction to their arrival. They stand there holding a favorite doll or truck, sporting pigtails, braids or a new haircut. Their little dimples and smiles, their squeals and hellos would put a grin on the sourest of faces.</p><p>I am thankful that both my granddaughters and my grandsons are growing up today rather than times past. These days, the sexes are taught to be supportive and respectful of one another. The days when women were considered property are long gone. Choices for their life pathways are plentiful.</p><p>I also feel fortunate that our family lives in an area where there is a good sense of community. We have a good school system (where 1,238 of the full-time employees are women.) And if I were to give a city, town or county a grade on a report card, I would consider the number and quality of nonprofits. While we can always do more, I think our community is doing very well.</p><p>For Women's History Month, I want to offer a public thank you to the women who played a role in starting these organizations.</p><p>Take the example of Mainstay. Though our county has a reputation for its wealth and beauty that attracts visitors and new residents, we also have another face. We have a significant amount of poverty, and we're no exception to our share of situations that plague the human race.</p><p>When I moved here in the 1970s, there was no place for women to go when confronting domestic violence. This situation happens across the socioeconomic spectrum. As a mother and a grandmother, I shudder to think of small children and their parents facing a situation like that.</p><p>Thankfully, there were people who cared about the absence of services and a shelter, and they did something about it. Helen Redden and Naoma Dean Clague at Trinity Presbyterian Church, with Renee Kumor and the late Charlotte Buller, are among those who deserve a thank you from the community for bringing this to fruition in 1985. Beth Kissling and Salley Stepp were the first employees. Stepp now is director of Safe in Brevard.</p><p>In the beginning, around 90 women a year were assisted. The history on its website says, "Today Mainstay serves nearly 1,000 individuals yearly and operates the largest domestic violence shelter in Western North Carolina." Its mission includes self-sufficiency as well as safety.</p><p>Claire Heydon Burson and Barbara Garrison (no relation) were interested in providing health care to seasonal farm workers in our community. Thanks to their initial efforts and persistence, over the years it has grown into the Blue Ridge Community Health Services.</p><p>The beginning of the Dispute Settlement Center (now The Mediation Center), which resolves conflicts out of the courtroom, was started by Fran Schneider, Savie and Francis Underhill and Wendell Capes.</p><p>Various committees leading to the formation of the Children and Family Resource Center started with assistance by women. Among them were Marcia Caserio, Grace Poli and Kumor along with Spence Campbell. Three women — Jean Hoogstra, Margaret Milroy and Eugenia Dowdeswell — launched the Interfaith Assistance Ministry. Poli was also involved in starting the Human Resources Council.</p><p>Many of these women were and still are members of the League of Women Voters. The league is a nonpartisan organization encouraging informed and active participation of citizens. Among women who worked to establish a local chapter were the late Frances Sherman, Eleanor Cosgrove and Sally Godehn.</p><p>Another wonderful asset in our community is the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy that conserves and preserves land in our area. I am told this organization was hatched at the kitchen table of Lela McBride, another league member. Mary Jo Padgett provided leadership to start another important nonprofit, ECO (Environmental & Conservation Organization).</p><p>In addition to the environment and social services, women contribute to the arts community. Jana Humleker founded The Supporting Players, a theater support guild, at the Flat Rock Playhouse. Under the leadership of Betsy Bisson and the late Wendy Wilkins Bailey, the Spotlighters, a support guild for YouTheatre at the playhouse, was also launched.</p><p>Heather Boeke, a high-energy mom with twins, has given area children their own museum and family play space when she founded Hands On. Most recently, Caroline Long has labored long and hard to found St. Gerard House, a nonprofit serving families dealing with autism here in Hendersonville.</p><p>Over the years, Pam Sacco and Caserio provided leadership for several area nonprofits. Some of their projects broached the difficult subject of child sexual abuse and planted the seeds for the formation of nonprofits such as The Healing Place to address that need. </p><p>Caserio was on the committee that hired the first director of the Pardee Hospital Foundation, and started the annual Women Helping Women event, providing mammograms and health resources to women in need.</p><p>There are many more women — and men — who helped launch other nonprofits, but due to space limitations those will have to wait for a future column. (Information about them may be sent to the email address listed below.)</p><p>For now, it's time to say thank you to these ladies: for taking time from your job and your home to step out of the box and think of others.</p><p>We are grateful for the times you forgot and left damp laundry in the dryer, and ran out of milk. We appreciate the hours on the phone, all the legwork, all the papers you filled out, and the many meetings you attended.</p><p>Thank you for working through the fatigue as you worked for your passion and pursued a purpose.</p><p>To honor the work of these women, support these organizations with your donations.</p><p>Our community is better because of their efforts.</p><p>Mary Garrison lives in Flat Rock. Contact her at mmrgarrison@gmail.com.</p>